Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez clinched victory in a hard-fought battle against Tereza Valentova from the Czech Republic in the championship final of the Japan Women’s Open. Despite a dominant start that saw Fernandez win the first set in just 28 minutes, Valentova rallied and pushed Fernandez to three sets before ultimately conceding to the 23-year-old Quebec native. This triumph marked Fernandez’s second title of 2025 and her fifth career title, following her earlier win at the Washington Open.
In a post-match speech, Fernandez expressed gratitude towards her coach and father, Jorge Fernandez, along with her support team and family members for their unwavering dedication and sacrifices. She credited their love and encouragement for propelling her to success on the court.
During the match, Fernandez showcased her skills with three aces, seven winners, and minimal errors. She demonstrated a solid performance by winning 43 receiving points, surpassing Valentova’s 31. Fernandez maintained a 70% win rate on her first serve and a 46% rate on her second serve. Additionally, she successfully saved five out of nine break points, while Valentova managed to save nine out of 16.
Following her victory, Fernandez is set to compete in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she will face off against Maria Sakkari of Greece, as her initial matchup with Victoria Mboko was rescheduled due to a draw update. Meanwhile, Mboko will now play against Bianca Andreescu from Mississauga, Ontario, in an exciting all-Canadian first-round encounter.